Driving mechanism for washing-machines.



H. S. JUDD- & H. PLETSCH.

DRIVING MECHANISM FOR WASHING MACHINES. APPLICATION FILED MAR. Io, I910.

Patenfed Sept. 18,1917.

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ah I I J fl "III/II/I/IIIIW @IIII/IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIMI II\\- v H 3.1mm & H. PLETSCH. DRIVING MECHANISM FOR WASHING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 10, IQIO- Patented Sept. 18, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 y H WLT 2 N 7 r 3 X I 3 t g f. fl 1 j n y fl/ m (0 w m g 8 W1. H 2 i4 Ez 2w i3 3 0 ni m mu Mm @ATlEd Parana HENRY S. JUDD AND HENRY PLETSGI-I, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNORS TO JUDD LAUNDRY MACHINE COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORA- TION OF DELAWARE.

DRIVING MECHANISM FOR WASHING-MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 118, 11917.

Apmication filed March 10, 1910. Serial No. 548,388.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, HENRY S. JUDD and Like parts are indicated by the same letter in all the figures.

The tub A provided with the cover A and locking thumb screw A has at one end the approximately triangular frame A which is provided at the bottom with the pro ection A having at the outer end the trunnion A adapted to rest upon the supporting hanger B which is supported by the frame B The gear segment C is an integral part of the projection A and engages the segmental gear C which is mounted upon the pin G which is supported by the arms C upon the frame B The lever D is attached by the screws D to the se mental gear C and supports at its upper end the, block D which slidably engages the rod E. The springs E E surround, the rod E and are held between the block D and the collars E E which are adjustab'ly held upon the rod E by means of the set screws The crank F integral with the sleeve F is rotatably mounted upon the driving shaft F and carries the crank pin F which engages one end of the rod E. The sleeve F is carried in the bearing F and provides a bearing for one end of the shaft F The jaw Gr integral with the sleeve F 1s adapted to be engaged by the jaw G slidably mount- H which depends from the rack H is adapted to engage said groove H. The rod 11 carried in the bearings H and H which are supported on the frame B is provided at one end with the hand wheel H and at the other with the pinion H to engage the rack H The lugs H upwardly extending from the rack H have the slot H adapted to engage the rod H to supportthe rack H By means of the rod H and the rack and pinion controlled thereby, the jaw G can be shifted into and out of engagement with the jaw G, to thereby connect and disconnect theoperating crank arm F and the shaft F it being understood that said shaft is rotated from any suitable source of power.

The springs K are attached at their outer ends to the studs K and wedge-shaped nuts K which bear upon the plates K on the frame 13 and are attached at their inner ends by means of the pins K to the frame A in a line with the axis of the tub.

It will be understood that the power is applied to and rotates the shaft F Such power, of course, would be applied to the shaft F by means of a gear or pulley or direct connection to the driving shaft of any motor. These being perfectly familiar and obvious means of communicating power to the shaft F we have not thought it necessary to describe or illustrate the same. The shaft F being thus rotated carries with it naturally the crank F which reciprocates the bar E, thus rocking the lever D whereby the segment C is rocked about its axis, and since it engages the segment 0 on the side of the tub, the tub will thus be moved back and forth or oscillated.

This means for communicating motion to the tub together with the other attachments connected therewith and with the tub is operative for the full performance of its function only in connection with an oscillating horizontally supported laundry tub or the like because the motion of the mobile contents of the tub conspires with the parts of the apparatus to bring out the desired result.

We have illustrated in the drawings an operative device, but it will be evident that many changes may be made without departing materially from the spirit of our invention. We wish, therefore, that our drawings be considered as diagrammatia The use and operation of our invention are as follows- The tub illustrated is the usual washing tub supported upon an axis below the center of gravity and maintained in a vertical position by means of a plurality of springs. The tub is oscillated by means of a gear which is mounted about. the supporting trunnion and engages a further gear which is oscillated by means of a lever. The lever is driven by a reciprocating rod which in turn is driven by a crank or eccentric. The motion of this rod and lever sets up, of course, the usual oscillation in the tub. This oscillation, however slight, is accentuated by the rush of material to the down side. Since the excursion of the reciprocating rod and oscillating lever is limited, the tub will of necessity be brought up short in its excursion, and the motion of inertia of the tub and the material therein must be carried and reversed in direction by means of the reciprocating machinery. This of necessity causes very considerable shocks upon the machinery at the end of each stroke. These shocks, if not taken up by some flexible connection, are very harmful to the tub and the machinery. In order to take up these shocks a plurality of springs are interposed between the reciprocating rod and the oscillating lever, the result of which is to allow the springs to gradually bring the tub to rest and reverse its direction instead of compelling the strain to come violently upon the driving mechanism. We thus provide a spring rod connection betweenthe tub and the driving power.

We claim:- 1

1. In. an apparatus of the character described, the combination with a main frame, of a body pivotally mounted on said frame to oscillate about a horizontal axis adjacent the bottom of said body, and an oscillating spring pivotally connected at its outer end to said frame and pivotally connected at its inner end directly to said body, said spring being arranged at an angle to the path of movement of its inner pivoted end.

2. In an apparatus of the character de- .pivoted end, a power shaft and driving connections between said shaft and said body comprising a rotary crank and pitman, an

oscillating lever and cushioning springs, substantially as described.

3. In apparatus of the character'described, the combination with a main frame, of a body mounted on said frame and arranged to oscillate about a horizontal axis below its center of gravity, mechanism for oscillating said body aboutsaid axis comprising a lever pivoted on said frame below the axis of said body and connected to the latter, a power actuated pitman for oscillating said lever and spring mechanism arranged to cooperate with said lever in effecting the reversals in the direction of movement of said oscillating body, substantially as described.

4. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with a main frame, of an oscillatory body, horizontally arranged trunnions adjacent the bottom of said body, bearings at each side of the main frame for said trunnions, springs connected to said body and to the main frame for yieldingly holding said body normally in upright position, a lever connected to the lower portion of said body at one end for oscillating the same, a power driven pitman, a block slidably mounted upon said pitman and connected to the upper end of said lever, and cushioning springs mounted upon said pitman at opposite sides of said block.

. HENRY S. JUDD.

HENRY PLETSCH. Witnesses:

FRANCIS W. PARKER,-JI'., EDWARD F. WRAY.

Copies 01' this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Iatents.

Washington, D. G. 

